The ultimate US road trip, by bike! This iconic ride takes us through the rolling hills of world renowned wine estates in Napa Valley, alongside towering Redwood trees and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Our route follows Coastal Highway 1 as it twists its way around rocky headlands, crashing waves stirring the numerous Elephant seal colonies that scatter the beaches below. Out of the saddle we explore the many incredible state parks, isolated beaches and prestigious wineries for which the region is so highly regarded, as well as re-fuelling on fine Californian cuisine.

Cycling profile

Daily distance in km/miles:

Day 2

50.0km/31.1miles

Day 3

60.0km/37.3miles

Day 4

70.0km/43.5miles

Day 5

60.0km/37.3miles

Day 6

70.0km/43.5miles

Day 8

65.0km/40.4miles

Day 9

65.0km/40.4miles

Day 10

65.0km/40.4miles

Day 11

60.0km/37.3miles

Day 12

50.0km/31.1miles

Number of days cycling: 10

Pace: Moderate: 13-16km/8-10miles an hour

Terrain: Low altitude; 100% tarmac

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Healdsburg.

Those on the group flights will be met at San Francisco airport and transferred to our start hotel in Healdsburg, approx. 100km outside of San Francisco. Those on Land Only arrangements should make their own way to the start hotel this afternoon or arrive in time to join the group transfer. Following a short trip briefing this evening, it's time to get some rest before our first day of cycling tomorrow.See more images and videos

2Day 2Cycle in Napa Valley; optional wine tasting.

After breakfast we transfer to Napa Valley where we'll spend some time getting fitted with bikes and other equipment. Our cycle route takes us into the heart of Napa Valley, one of California's finest wine making regions. In Napa there are over 400 acclaimed wineries, many of which are family owned and run. Our view from the saddle will be dominated by rolling hills carpeted with vineyards, usually under a sunny California sky! The Napa Valley vineyards produce some of the finest wine in the USA, including varieties of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. We join the Silverado Trail, a scenic route along the eastern side of Napa that compromises more than 40 wine estates. We'll stop en route for a picnic and there's an optional visit to a winery for those that would like to sample some of Napa's acclaimed products!
Transfer approx. 90km.

The beautiful vineyards of Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley surround charming Healdsburg, our overnight location, and so it's from here that we set off this morning to explore the countryside surrounding the valleys. We are likely to see many different types of tree, from towering Redwood to oaks, palm and even cactus on this round-trip along the valley roads. Returning to Healdsburg in the afternoon, there will be some time to explore the pretty town.
See more images and videos

4Day 4See the Russian River by bike.

We transfer from Healdsburg to Russian River where today's cycling begins. The river flows from the heart of California's wine country out to the Pacific coast. Following the bends of the river, we'll take in the vast scenery - much of this area was covered in forest before logging began in the 19th Century. There's an optional 10km cycle detour in order to visit Armstrong Redwood State Natural Reserve, where we can walk in the shadow of California's mighty Redwood trees. By far the tallest living trees on the planet, Redwood's grow up to 80 metres high, with a lifespan of 500 - 1000 years! Back along the river, our route takes us through Sonoma Coast State Park where the salty coastal region beckons as we join our first stretch of Costal Highway 1 - California's most scenic road. Today's final destination is Bodega Bay, a pretty coastal town on a rocky inlet. We will stay overnight in nearby Occidental.
Transfer approx. 10km. See more images and videos

5Day 5Cycle along Tomales Bay to Point Reyes National Seashore.

We transfer to Tomales where we start our ride following Highway 1 along Tomales Bay to Point Reyes National Seashore. This vast area juts out into the Pacific Ocean and is characterised by rocky headlands, expansive grasslands and windswept beaches. Marine wildlife such as sea lions and Elephant seals thrive in this protected habitat. Migratory birds are also attracted to the area and Grey whales pass by on their annual migration. We spend as much of the day as possible exploring the park and learning about its unique history. Our overnight stop will be in the Inverness area which looks onto Tomales Bay.
Transfer approx. 25km. See more images and videos

6Day 6Across the Golden Gate Bridge by bike.

Today's ride takes us from Point Reyes back to Coastal Highway 1, through Samuel Taylor State Park and past Muir Beach and the Muir Woods National Monument where we'll stop for a short walk. Scottish born John Muir, who the Muir Woods area has been named after, was one of the earliest pioneers for ecology, conservation and land protection. Returning to Highway 1 we will pass through the small town of Sausalito, overlooking Richardson Bay. The day ends with one of the most iconic rides of this trip as we enter San Francisco from the north by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.

We spend this morning getting to know San Francisco by visiting Union Square, North Beach, Russian Hill, Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf. San Francisco is widely regarded as one of the most picturesque cities in North America. At just 7 miles long, it is a densely populated city, with 43 steep hills overlooking a calm bay and golden beaches. We'll explore the city by foot and minibus, rather than navigating the hills on our bikes! In the middle of the afternoon we'll transfer to our next destination, the Monterey Peninsula. We stay in nearby Salinas.
Transfer approx. 185km.See more images and videos

Our day starts on the famous 17 Mile Drive, a scenic route along the edge of the Monterey Peninsula that passes through Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach, with scenic viewpoints along the coastline of the rocky headlands below. Back on Highway 1 we cycle one of the most beautiful sections of the famous road, which curves around the cliffs as waves crash onto the shore below. En route we'll stop at Point Lobos State Reserve where seals, sea lions, sea otters and thousands of sea birds reside. Point Lobos was once described as 'the greatest meeting of land and water in the world' by landscape artist Francis McComas. Our accommodation tonight is in a wonderful country lodge in Big Sur, within the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park - enjoy a short walk through the Redwoods at the end of the day!
See more images and videos

9Day 9Visit McWay Falls; optional Hearst Castle excursion.

Cycling directly from our accommodation we re-join Highway 1 for another incredibly scenic section of road that passes straight through the Big Sur region. We reach Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, named after a well-respected pioneer, where we'll join a trail to McWay Falls. This is the only major waterfall in California that empties straight onto a beach by the Pacific Ocean, and was once a favourite viewpoint of Julia Pfeiffer Burns. The McWay Falls is now one of the most photographed sights in Big Sur. Back on bikes our ride continues to San Simeon, a small town surrounded by the history of Hearst Castle. Built for the famous newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, the hilltop castle is now a State Historical Monument. For those that would like to visit the castle (optional extra), it's possible to miss the end part of today's cycling (around 20km) in order to fit this in before the group transfer to Santa Maria.
Transfer approx. 125km. See more images and videos

10Day 10Explore Santa Maria Valley by bike.

Our cycle route takes us through the wine region of Santa Maria Valley, famous for its varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah which are made possible thanks to the temperate coastal climate found in the region. On our bikes we pass a number of vineyards as we make our way towards Los Olivos, a charming, historic village. There is the opportunity to visit a winery this afternoon for a tasting tour (optional extra). At the end of the day, we'll transfer back to Santa Maria by bus.
Transfer approx. 50km. See more images and videos

11Day 11To Santa Barbara, ride to Lake Casitas.

This morning we transfer to the city of Santa Barbara, known as the American Riviera for its Mediterranean climate. Just outside Santa Barbara we'll start our cycle route, passing coastal villages and then the rolling farmland and orchards outside of Carpinteria. The route starts to climb 350 metres over the Casitas Pass. Our reward is the wonderful view of Lake Casitas from the top and then a great ride downhill towards the lake. We'll take the River Bike Trail back towards Ventura, an affluent beach town typical of California.
Transfer approx. 105km. See more images and videos

12Day 12Free morning for optional excursions; cycle to Santa Monica.

There are various optional excursions to join this morning in the Channel Islands National Park. The park consists of 8 islands off the coast of Southern California, some 14 miles out to sea. A 3 hour excursion focusing on wildlife can be taken around Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island, where it's usually possible to see seals, sea lions and birds. Alternatively, join a 3 hour whale watching excursion, where guides specifically look for whales and dolphins - it's possible to see Orca and Minke whales throughout the year, whereas Humpback and Blue whales only enter the area between June to September. Many species of dolphin are likely to be encountered! In the afternoon we ride towards Santa Monica on the western edge of Los Angeles, before transferring to our hotel.
Transfer approx. 45km. See more images and videos

13Day 13End Los Angeles.

Depending on the time of your return flight you may have the opportunity to visit Los Angeles today! Clients on group flights are then transferred back to Los Angeles airport for their flight home. Land Only clients are free to leave at any time today.See more images and videos

Your images

Guided Group

The group is usually between 6 and 12 in size, with an average of 9 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are moderately fit and possess a spirit of adventure. Some previous experience is required for most activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts, 10 lunches

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Bike hire (available locally from GBP200 paid on booking)

Single accommodation (available on request from GBP650)

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Hotels & Lodges

You will spend 12 nights in hotels and lodges. All the rooms are organised on a twin-share basis with en suite facilities, although single supplements are available. One of the highlights will be the lodge in Big Sur, a beautiful property set within the forest of the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
British, New Zealand, Swiss and most EU passport holders do not need a visa (and enter the country under the Visa Waiver Program), provided they are in possession of an onward air ticket when entering the USA. Visas for the USA are required by some nationalities, including South African, Greek and Portuguese passport holders.
All passengers travelling to and from the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are required to hold a machine-readable passport (MRP). A MRP has the holder's personal details, e.g. name, date of birth, nationality and their passport number contained in two lines of text at the base of the photo page. This text may be read by machine. The US now charges USD14 for the visa waiver program and must be paid by credit card.
The US authorities have introduced a mandatory requirement for all passengers travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme to register for an Electronic Travel Authority. For additional specifics about the VWP please consult the VWP information on the U.S. Embassy London website. More information and all necessary Internet links can be found at www.exodus.co.uk/Usvisa
There are no mandatory vaccinations required for this trip. Holiday style

This trip is classified Road and graded Moderate (3). Please see the introductory pages of the cycling holidays brochure for more important information on classification and grading.

Average daily distance: 56km (35 miles)
No. of cycling days: 10
Vehicle support: 100%
Terrain and route: Routes mostly follow scenic sections of Coastal Highway 1 and are 100% tarmac. Some challenging climbs but overall the trip is considered to be moderate.

Eating & drinking

All breakfasts and 10 packed/picnic lunches are included, allowing the option to try local restaurants in the evenings. You may wish to bring some of your own energy snacks, or these can be bought locally if required. The food is likely to be a highlight of this trip, with local restaurants offering a selection of great home cooked meals and plenty of seafood along the coastal areas. We recommend that you allow USD20 to USD40 per person per day for evening meals. The support vehicle will carry 3 litres of mineral water per person cycling day (available free of charge).

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want
to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list.

Weather & seasonality

California has warm, relatively dry summers and mild winters, making it very similar to a Mediterranean climate. As the Pacific Ocean is cold up to and around Big Sur (even during summer) the air is often humid and fresh! Along the coastline the average temperature ranges from 5degC to 28degC across the year, whereas summers are hot and dry further inland with colder, snowy winters, especially at higher altitudes. The two largest cities have very different weather systems; San Francisco is typically foggy, especially during the summer months, whereas Los Angeles is famous for endless sunshine and blue skies.

Reviews & community

This was an amazing bike tour through a great variety of Californian land and town scape. The cycling was not always easy but it was always enjoyable. I cannot imagine a better way to visit and feel part of that wonderful state if only for a short while.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Standing on the mountain overlooking San Francisco. We had climbed over 800 feet very fast and the reward was that unforgettable panorama.

What did you think of your group leader?

Mike and Brian were great motivational leaders who worked hard to keep us on the pace without making us feel pressurised.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Get some training on hills, take some good sunscreen, a decent camera and enjoy the trip.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

my advice to future adventurers would be to arrive in San Francisco a few days before the start of this cycle tour rather than have to start cycling in full jet lag mode. A couple of days in LA at the end would allow time to see more there ...especially Hollywood.

Beautiful rides and great variety of scenery of California. Covers quiet country roads among vineyards, to riding along rugged coastline, to passing through some interesting neighborhoods of luxury homes. The roads were in mostly great condition with moderate traffic. Good balance of some challenging rides followed by easier days. Our guides were really helpful and worked hard to make the trip a success.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Arriving in San Francisco riding across the Golden Gate Bridge, ride in hills above Santa Barbara and climb to Lake Casitas, and the coastal beauty pedaling along Big Sur.

What did you think of your group leader?

Leaders were fantastic. Knowledgeable, friendly, and worked very hard to accommodate everyone's ability on rides. They adjusted the trip as needed to provide a fantastic experience. Also arranged great lunches, provided and even a barbeque one night with local oysters.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Bikes provided were very good condition and provided all equipment needed (pumps, spare tubes, etc.), but saddle a bit hard. Suggest upgrade or bringing your own saddle pad cover.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Great balance of rides, good variety of comfortable accommodations. Included lunches were plentiful with lots of variety, breakfasts were mixed--some outstanding and a few uninspiring. Shorten the last day's ride enroute to Santa Monica to get there earlier--last ride did not match the other amazing rides and would give more time in Santa Monica. Overall, a really great trip.

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

I'm travelling via the US, do I need a visa?

Most clients are eligible to travel via the US under the US Visa Waiver Programme, however to do this you must register for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). This must be done prior to departure - more details can be found at www.exodus.co.uk/usvisa.

Rebecca Caldicott - Customer Operations

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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